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Fire department, residents celebrate station opening

Chief Dorian Flowers speaks during the grand opening of the new Hendersonville Fire Department Station 2 Friday.

Patrick Sullivan/Times-News

From staff reports

Published: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 6:13 p.m.

Last Modified: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 6:13 p.m.

Visitors took part in building tours conducted by the fire department staff, activities for family, ribbon cutting and refreshments during the grand opening of the new Hendersonville Fire Department Station 2 Friday.

The $3 million, nearly 11,000-square-foot fire station on Sugarloaf Road opened for business June 2, although Cooper Construction is still doing some interior work, said Fire Chief Dorian Flowers.

Currently manned by a three-person crew, the new firehouse is served by Engine 2 — which used to be housed at the old station on North Main Street — along with a 23-year-old engine kept there as a reserve.

Increasing response times and service levels were only two reasons city leaders chose to build the new firehouse, Flowers said. The state fire marshal's office also indicated to the city in 2009 that the city risked lowering its insurance rating if it didn't built a new fire station.

The new fire department was designed with a lifespan of 70 years, Flowers said, and incorporated several features lacking at Station 1 on North Main: a meeting room capable of hosting 47 personnel during training; more storage for turnout gear and a workout room for physical fitness.

Another new feature built into Station 2 is a decontamination room, where chemicals and toxic soot can be washed safely from turnout gear without mixing it with bunkroom linens or other gear. Architects designed the room to serve double-duty, incorporating a manhole cover and narrow vent so firefighters can train for confined space rescues.

<p>Visitors took part in building tours conducted by the fire department staff, activities for family, ribbon cutting and refreshments during the grand opening of the new Hendersonville Fire Department Station 2 Friday. </p><p>The $3 million, nearly 11,000-square-foot fire station on Sugarloaf Road opened for business June 2, although Cooper Construction is still doing some interior work, said Fire Chief Dorian Flowers.</p><p>Currently manned by a three-person crew, the new firehouse is served by Engine 2 — which used to be housed at the old station on North Main Street — along with a 23-year-old engine kept there as a reserve.</p><p>Increasing response times and service levels were only two reasons city leaders chose to build the new firehouse, Flowers said. The state fire marshal's office also indicated to the city in 2009 that the city risked lowering its insurance rating if it didn't built a new fire station.</p><p>The new fire department was designed with a lifespan of 70 years, Flowers said, and incorporated several features lacking at Station 1 on North Main: a meeting room capable of hosting 47 personnel during training; more storage for turnout gear and a workout room for physical fitness.</p><p>Another new feature built into Station 2 is a decontamination room, where chemicals and toxic soot can be washed safely from turnout gear without mixing it with bunkroom linens or other gear. Architects designed the room to serve double-duty, incorporating a manhole cover and narrow vent so firefighters can train for confined space rescues.</p>